Marking means for leveling rods



M y 1955 J. w. BOURNIER 2,708,790

MARKING MEANS FOR LEVELING RODS Filed June 29, 1954 INVENTOR JUL/AN f wUR/WER A'I'TORNEY ited St tes Patent MARKING MEANS FOR LEVELING RODS Julian W. Bournier, Oxnard, Calif. Application June 29, 1954, Serial No. 439,962 2 Claims. (Cl. 233 -74) This invention relates to marking means for leveling rods such as are used by engineers, architects and builders, and particularly relates to leveling rods which are adapted to be used by only one person without any assistance.

Heretofore, the leveling rods in general use required the cooperation of two persons, one to manipulate the rod and the other to make the marking. The additional amount of labor and expense involved in the necessity of using two men for one job made this operation unnecessarily costly and inefiicient.

It is in order to overcome the above disadvantage of using two persons for one job that this inventionhas, at least partly, come about, this being one object of the invention.

Another object of this invention is to provide a leveling rod which is highly maneuverable and easy to operate.

Another object of this invention is to provide a leveling rod marking means wherein the parts are relatively adjustable.

Other objects of this invention are to provide an improved leveling rod, of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly efiicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following descriptiomwhen read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view looking down on the device as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the plunger in its protracted or marking position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the plunger in the retracted position with the marker in its operative position.

Fig. 5 is a rear view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 2.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawing wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, there is shown a fragmentary portion of a rod 10, generally square in cross-section and illustrated as made of wood, although other materials such as metal and plastic may be substituted therefor. The rod 10 is embraced at its lower end, within a base 12, this base 12 also being of generally square cross-section. While the base 12 may be separable from the rod 10 so that the rod 10 may be used in its ordinary manner without this invention, in use in this invention the base 10 is permanently fixed to the rod 10, particularly in relation to the graduations on the rod 10, and the relationship between the base 12 and the graduations on the rod 10 is permanently fixed and non-variable.

Pivotally connected to the bottom of the base 12, as

2,708,790 Patented May 24, 1955 by pivot pin or rivet 16, is a housing 18 which is also generally square in cross-section, but which is of greater cross-sectional area than the base and rod. The rear wall of the housing 18 is shown in line with one side wall of the base while the front wall of the housing extends beyond the horizontal plane of the base. The bottom wall of the housing 18 is provided with a central slot 20 extending substantially the full length of this bottom wall. A slot 22 in the lower portion of the front wall of the housing intersects the slot 20 to form a corner opening in the lower portion of the front wall of the housing. A central, circular opening 24 is provided in the rear wall of the housing and a vertical slot 26 intersects this opening 24, thereby forming what is, in effect a keyhole.

Extending into the housing 18 through opening 24 is a cylindrical rod 28 which is provided with a vertically ofi-set portion 30. A hole is provided at the top of the portion 30 and attached to the portion 30, by extending through the hole, is a cord or cable 32. Intermediate the ends of the horizontal portion of the rod 28 is provided a lug or key 34 while at the inner end of the rod, Within the housing, is provided a conical end portion 36. This conical end portion 36 is rotatably seated in a correspondingly shaped opening in the end Wall 38 of a plunger generally designated 40.

The plunger 40 comprises a base portion 42 with which the front wall 38 is integrally connected, atop wall 44, integral with the front wall, and side walls 46 and 48 connecting the base portion and top wall. A central flange 49 depends from the base portion 42 and is slidably fitted within the slot 20 of the housing. Extending forwardly from the flange 49, and integral therewith, is a marking portion 50 having a beveled front edge 52. The beveled edge forms a marking device which is adapted to move through the slot 22 in the front wall of the housing.

A coil spring 54 surrounds the rod 28 and bears against the inner surface of the front wall 38 of the plunger at one end and against the inner surface of the rear wall of the housing 18 at the other end. This spring acts to urge the plunger toward the marking position illustrated in Fig. 3. However, when the rod 28 is moved toward the retracted position and turned so that the key 34 is moved out of alignment with the slot 26, the plunger will be held in the retracted position against the tension of the spring.

A scale not shown, of the general type used in leveling rods may be provided on the rod 10.

In operation, when it is desired to set the device, the rod 28 is retracted, thereby retracting the plunger against the tension of the spring; and the rod is then rotated to the position where the key 34 is out of alignment with the slot 26. This holds the plunger in the retracted position with the marker in its operative position. When it is desired to release the marker, the operator, who is usually out of reach of the marker, actuates the cord 32 to align the key 34 with the slot 26. When this is done, the spring thrusts the plunger forward and the beveled edge 52 is thrust out of the opening 22 into marking position.

The axial pivot point provided at 16, permits the rod to be turned so that the target may be read by the instrument man in whatever position he is in.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

l. A marking means in combination with a graduated leveling rod comprising a member permanently fixed to the end of the rod in relation to the graduations thereon, and remotely aetuable marker projecting means mounted on said member for making a mark in a plane perpendicular to the rod in a fixed datum relation to the graduations on the rod. 1

2. A marking means in combination with a graduated leveling rod to indicate a position of the leveling rod comprising a first member fixed to the end of the rod, a second member connected to said first member for rotation relative thereto about an axis parallel to the rod, but in fixed relationship to the graduations thereon, and remotely actuable marker projecting means mounted on the second member for making a mark in a plane perpendicular to the rod in a fixed datum relation to the graduations on the rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Follett July 3, Sovelius Oct. 20, Blodgett Dec. 28, Watson Dec. 28, McMillan July 9, Higgins Oct. 19, Kasten Aug. 15, Hane Nov. 7,

FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 7, 

